Fortaleza de Sagres sits atop a rugged headland to the south of Praia da Mareta. This fort dates from the 15th century, and is unique in that it only contains one exterior wall. The rest of the fortress’s defenses were provided by the towering 200-foot cliffs that were considered impossible for attackers to scale.
Built to deter attacks by pirates from North Africa, the fortress was enhanced over time, but significantly damaged by the tidal wave from the massive 1755 earthquake that flattened Lisbon and much of the Algarve.
